Hatch frame



Feb. 20, 1940. c. WILKOFF HATCH FRAME Original Filed Feb. '7, 1936 I awucwfo'o Louis 6. "Gil/inf];

. and rigid frame, preferably having a sm0oth.one-. a piece well,a nd which may be'securely attachedand sealedto the roof sheets, without requiring Patented Feb.20, 1940 u lTsosrATss Original application February ,7, 1936, Serial No. 7 62,856. Divided and this application March 1,1937; Serial No. 128,551

11Claims. (01.108 5) I r 1.

i The present invention relates to hatch frames,

for example, the frame surrounding the hatch opening of a refrigerator 'car, and aims generally to improve and simplify the construction of such 1 frames as well as the constructionof the car roof.

Inthe construction of refrigerator cars; there usually is providedat one or both ends of the the ice. The ice is introduced into the compartment through a hatch opening in the roof, which opening is adapted to besealed by a hatch plug. -Modern refrigerator cars are equipped with metal roof sheets and the hatch frames are usubolted or riveted to the roof sheet. In both cases the roof is subject to leakage around the bolts or rivets, thus shorteningthe life of the car roof structure; a

Furthermore the hatch framemust preferably bemade of metal of sufficient thickness-and ri-' gidity, as for example, fr0m to inch steel plates, to adequately withstand the shock and Wear on the wood framing'of the car roof, when large cakes of ice are dumped through the hatch opening. :The inner wall of the hatch frame must i be: relatively smooth, and preferablyis of onepiece constructionso as to smoothly and accurately fit the sealing hatch plug.

According to myinvention I- provideimproved bolts, rivets or other types of fastenings, erforating the roof sheets. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the hatch frame may The subjectmatter of the present application is a division of my prior application; Serial Number 62,856, filed February '7, 1936. These and other important aims and objects of the invention will be apparent from the fol-' lowing description; when considered with the accompanying. drawing illustrating certain; pre- Fig.'3a 'isa detail view illustrating a modified manner of clamping the hatch'frame in placein bhe Hi *1 Referring more particularly to-"the drawing, modern refrigerator cars include a sheathing roof Ill, metal roof sheet I I, ceiling" l2, certain structural framework l3between the ,sheathing and ceiling, and a hatch opening l4 adapted to receive a hatchframe l5 andto'be closed by-a suitablehatch'plug 1B. The framework 03 may around the hatch opsanings and the space be-' tween the ceilingand roof sheathing isusually filled with suitable insulating material.

r be ofavariety of forms and construction, usually includes some kind of box-like frame According to the form of my invention 11111 trated therein, I provide a. hatch frameincluding a well ll, combing l8 and deck flange l9, 0f heavy metal, preferably wrought iron plate; from to inchwide inthickness, which frame may advantageously bemade as by pressingfr'om a single. piece metal, to provide smooth, continuo us, downwardly convergingjside and end walls, 28 and Z I respectively. By pressing the wel1 Ifl and at least a portion of the combingwfroma single piece of metal, smooth side walls and uniform fillets are presented'that will accuratelyfreceive and fit the hatch'plug shown indotted lines Fig.1.

Thehatch frame thus constructed maybe secured in position in the} car, in a numberof dif; ferent waysa'ccordingto the invention.

1-In the forms of invention illustrated in Figs. 1

and 3a,the frame is securely held in place by" applying al'downward clamping pressure to the frame at somepoint orpointsspaced from and fabric 22 such'as canvas, and a layer of suitable plastic deck cement .23 p

Accordingrto the [form of invention shown i n 1, a downwardly and outwardly flaring apron or skirt 24 may be attached to the lower edgeof the well,as by welding along the edgeas indi cated at2 4a, the lower edge of the skirt having an outwardly extending horizontal flange 25 adapted to underlie the ceiling l2. Suitable clamping means, asffor example, wedge-shaped pieces 26, or clamping scre w s 27. (Fig; 3a), may

be driven between thejceilingfl and flange Z'zato he d he batch m ssl iel i pleeerith the deck flange I!) pressed tightly against the roof sheet ll.

In the embodiments of the invention thus de scribed, it will be apparent that the hatch frame may be secured in position after the roof sheet H has been applied to the car, which is a distinct advantage and economy over the prior practice. of riveting: the frame to the roof. sheet on the ground and then putting the roof sheet and frame in place on the car. the framework I3 need not bespecially con-.

structed to fit the hatch frame l5, and considerable space is provided between the framework l3 and hatch frame 15 that may be filled with insulation, or if unfilled, will provide a 'dead air The construction has many insulating space. advantages in the economy of constructing the refrigerator car.

Advantages of the invention reside in the simplicity of construction of the hatch frame as well as of the car roof structure surrounding the hatch frame, as well as the improved watertight connection between the hatch frame and the metal roof sheet of the car. By reason of the construction, the car roof frame is not subjected to shock and wear as in the case of many prior installations and need not be made to accurately accommodate the hatchplug.

The elimination of all vertical rivets or bolt 1 connections between the hatch frame and car roof sheet also improves the watertightness of the roof as a whole, which is highly desirable in prolonging the life of the car roof structure.

Obviously, my invention is not to be restricted to the details described or as shown in the accompanying drawing which is intended as illustrative only.

I claim:

1. In a railway car construction, a metal roof I sheet, a ceiling spaced therefrom, an opening in said ceiling and roof sheet, frame members interposed between said roof sheet and ceiling and adjacent said openings, a -liatch frame positioned in said opening and provided with a combing overlying aportion of theroof. surrounding the opening therein, means for securing said hatch frame to said roof sheet to provide a waterproof joint therebetween, and means for applying a clamping pressure between said hatch frame and car structure to hold the hatch frame tightly againstthe roof sheet, said last named means including means formed as a unitary part of the hatch frame and having a portion underlying and means for applying a clamping pressure between said hatch frame and car structure to hold the hatch frame tightly against the roof sheet,. saidlast named means being formed as a unitary part of the hatch frame well and including an outwardly flaring skirt, and clamping means between said skirtand car ceiling.

3. In combination with'arefrigerator car having a roof and a ceiling spaced below said roof, of a hatch'frame positioned in. said roof, said frame having a portion bearing on the upper sur- Furthermore,

:[ing on the upper surface thereof, an apron connected to the frameand extending below the ceiling and means interposed between the apron and ceiling for exerting a downward clamping pressure on said hatch frame.

5. In combination with a refrigerator car having a ceiling and a roof, of a hatch frame positioned within the roof and having a portion bearing on the upper surface thereof, an. apron rigidly connected to the frame and extending below the ceiling and means interposed between the apron and ceiling for exerting a downward clamping pressure on said hatch frame.

6, In combination with a refrigerator car having a ceiling and a roof, of a hatch frame positioned within the roof and having a portion bearing on the upper surface thereof, an apron connected to the frame and extending below the ceiling and wedge-shaped means interposed between the apron and ceiling for exerting a downward clamping pressure on said hatch frame.

'7. In combination with a refrigerator car having a ceiling and a roof, of a hatch frame positioned within the roof and having a portion bearing on the upper surface thereof, an apron.

connected to the frame and extending below the ceiling and threaded means interposed between the apron and ceiling for exerting a downward clamping pressure on said hatch frame.

8. In combination with .a refrigerator car having a ceiling and-a roof, of a hatch frame positioned within the roof and having a portion bearing on the upper surface thereof, an apron connected to the frame and extending below and underlying the ceiling and means interposed between the apron and ceiling for exerting a downward clamping pressure on. said hatch frame. i

9. A hatch frame for roofs of refrigerator cars and the like having a roof and a ceiling spaced below the same, said frame comprising a metal well formed with downwardly and inwardly sloping side and end walls, a supplemental frame of the car, and means positioned between said.

flange and ceiling for exerting a downward clamping pressure on said hatch frame.

10.. A hatch frame for roofs of refrigerator cars and the like having a roof and a ceiling spaced below the same, said frame comprising a metal ing side and end walls, a supplemental frame rigidly secured to said first-named frame and having certain of its walls downwardly and outwardly sloping, a laterally extending flange on the supplemental frame underlying the ceiling of the car, and wedge-shaped means positioned between said flange and ceiling for exerting a downward clamping pressure on said hatch frame.

11. A hatch frame for roofs of refrigerator cars and the like having'a roof and a ceiling 2,190,690 r V i i 3 spaced below the same; said frame comprising Ia metal well formed with downwardly and inwardly sloping side and end Walls, asupplemental frame rigidly secured to said first-named frame and, having certain of its walls down- Wardly and outwardly sloping, a laterally extending flange on the supplemental frame underlying the ceiling of the car, and threaded means positioned between said flange and ceiling for exerting a downward clamping pressure 9n said. 

